The Low Pressure Area (LPA) east of Mindanao has dissipated, leaving two weather systems dominant.

Today, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera, Aurora and Quezon will experience cloudy skies with scattered rains. In Visayas, Bicol Region, Caraga, Northern Mindanao and Zamboanga Peninsula, cloudy skies with scattered rains showers and thunderstorms will prevail, making floods or landslides possible. In Metro Manila, Ilocos Region and Central Luzon, partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rains will be experienced. In rest of the country, partly cloudy to cloudy skies will be experienced only with isolated rain showers.

With the surge of Amihan, gale warning is hoisted off the seaboards of Northern Luzon, down to the western and eastern seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon. These include Batanes, Calayan, Babuyan, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Isabela, Zambales, Bataan, Palawan, Aurora, Camarines Provinces, Catanduanes and the eastern coast of Quezon including Polillo Island. Due to rough to very rough sea condition, fishing boats and small sea craft are prohibited from venturing, while larger vessels are alerted against big waves.

Once in a Blue Moon? You mean once every two and a half years. Blue moons are rare occurrences, but are not as rare as people think.

Tonight, the world will experience a “blue moon”, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

But in this case, the moon doesn’t literally turn blue. The moon is called blue when it’s the second full moon within a month. Usually, there is only one blue moon in a month, with of course, the exception of blue moons.
The lunar cycle is 29 days long, which means that eventually, there will be an appearance of two moons in one month. This usually happens when a full moon appears at the very start of the month, either on the first or second day.

A blue moon happens roughly once every two and a half years on average, the last two happened in August 2012 and July 2015. In rare cases, there are two blue moons in one year. The “double blue moon” occurred last 1999, and will happen again this year – one tonight, and another in March. On the other hand, when double blue moons occur in January and March, February does not have a full moon, partially because it only has 28 days.

Bluer than Blue
There have been cases of an actual “blue moon,” which are rarer than its conventional meaning. The moon changes hue when there are volcanic eruptions or large fires that leave particles in the atmosphere.

One of the longest times a blue moon occurred was when the Indonesian volcano Krakatoa erupted in 1883, equal to the blast of a 100-megaton nuclear bomb. People reported to have heard a cannon-like noise up to 600 kilometers away. Ash and particles about 1 micrometer wide rose up to the Earth’s atmosphere, causing selective light to pass through and reach the surface. The moon “turned blue” for days in areas near Krakatoa.

Reported sightings of a “blue moon” also happened after Mount Pinatubo erupted in 1991. Forest fires are also a cause for blue moons because of the smoke and particles they create. In these occurrences, “lavender suns” are also reported to be seen, also caused by particles in the air.

Historical Mix-up
Originally, the blue moon was considered the third out of four full moons in a season (winter, spring, summer, fall). Each season usually experiences 3 full moons, hence the appearance of a 4th moon, or the Blue Moon, which came rarely and is considered the 13th moon in a year. This was based on Maine Farmer’s Almanac from 1819, which farmers used as reference for agricultural purposes.

However, in 1946, an article on Sky & Telescope misinterpreted the blue moon as the 2nd moon in a month, inferring from the idea that the blue moon appeared as the 13th full moon in a year. The article was titled “Once in a Blue Moon”, a phrase which integrated itself into pop culture meaning something that happens very rarely.
From this misinterpretation, a blue moon can be considered either of the following:
1. It is the extra full moon within a season, which usually has three moons (Maine’s definition); or
2. It is the second full moon within a month (Sky & Telescope’s definition).

The latter is the more popular and commonly used definition for a blue moon nowadays, with the other definition practically defunct.

Catch the blue moon tonight, peaking at 8:51 PM (Philippine Standard Time).

SOURCES:
http://www.seasky.org/astronomy/astronomy-glossary.html#B
www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/what-is-a-blue-moon/

PAGASA
NASA

The Northeast Monsoon or Amihan has slightly weakened but continues to blow through extreme Northern Luzon, while the warm and humid Easterlies, dominate the remaining parts of the country.

In the next hours, Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Caraga, and Davao Region will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms that may trigger flash floods or landslides. In Batanes and the Babuyan Group of Islands, cloudy skies with scattered rains will prevail. The rest of the country, including Metro Manila, can enjoy generally fair weather as partly cloudy to cloudy skies will prevail only with chances of isolated rain showers.

Gale warning has been lifted as well, as Amihan weakens. However, colder days are likely to prevail in February as Siberian winds reintensify.

In today’s interview with PAGASA Weather Forecaster Robert Badrina, he mentioned that no weather disturbance is expected within the next three day.

Today’s Philippine Weather Forecast: January 4, 2018

Tropical Storm Agaton has exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

At 3:00 AM, the weather disturbance with the international name “Bolaven” was located at 756 kilometers west-northwest of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. Moving west at 25 kilometers per hour, the storm is expected to head towards Vietnam.

Despite the absence of a weather disturbance, some parts of Luzon and Visayas will experience rains induced by the Tail-End of a Cold Front and the Northeast Monsoon or Amihan. Today, Bicol and Samar will experience cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms that may trigger flash floods or landslides. In Cagayan Valley, Cordillera, and Aurora, cloudy skies with scattered rains will prevail. In the rest of Luzon, including Metro Manila, partly cloudy to cloudy skies will be experienced with isolated rains. The rest of Visayas and Mindanao will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers.

Because of the surge of Amihan, gale warning is still in effect in the northern seaboards of Northern Luzon, as well as the eastern seaboards of Northern, Central and Southern Luzon and Visayas, where wave height may reach up to 3.4 to 4.5 meters. Fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out into the sea, while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves in Batanes, Calayan, Babuyan; the northern coasts of Cagayan and Ilocos Norte; Isabela; the eastern coasts of Cagayan, Aurora, Camarines provinces, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon and Quezon (including Polilio Island); Northern and Eastern Samar.

Monthly Overview

According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Rob Gile, the country is expected to remain storm-free in the next three days.
Based on climatological records, an average of 0 to 1 Tropical Cyclone may develop or enter PAR in January. It may hit Visayas and Mindanao or recurve away from the landmass.

The Low Pressure Area (LPA) east of Mindanao has intensified into a Tropical Depression and was given the local name Urduja, the country’s 21st tropical cyclone this year.

At 10:00 AM today, Tropical Depression Urduja was at 405 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar. It has maximum winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 65 kph, moving north-northwest at 7 kph. According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Chris Perez, it may intensify into a Tropical Storm within the next 36 hours and hit the Southern Bicol Region or the northern part of Samar Provinces on Saturday.

As Urduja heads towards the landmass, Bicol Region and Eastern Visayas will experience cloudy skies with scattered to widespread rain showers and thunderstorms, which may trigger flash floods and landslides. In Mindanao, the rest of Visayas, MIMAROPA and CALABARZON, cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms may cause flash floods and landslides. Cloudy skies with scattered rains will prevail in Metro Manila, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and the rest of Central Luzon. Meanwhile, Ilocos Region will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains.

Because of the surge of Amihan, gale warning is still in effect in seaboards of Northern Luzon and eastern seaboards of Central Luzon, Southern Luzon and Visayas where wave height may reach up to 3.4 to 4.5 meters. Fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out into the sea, while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves in Batanes, Calayan, Babuyan, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Isabela, Aurora, Catanduanes; the northern and eastern seaboards of Camarines Provinces; the eastern coasts of Albay, Sorsogon, and Quezon including Polilio Island; northern and eastern coasts of Northern Samar; and the eastern coast of Eastern Samar.

 
Some areas in Northern and Central Luzon will continue to experience lights rains today.
 
According to PAGASA, the Northeast Monsoon or Amihan prevails in Northern Luzon, bringing cloudy skies with light rains in Cordillera, Batanes, Babuyan, Cagayan and Ilocos Norte. In Isabela, Aurora and Quezon, cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and isolated thunderstorms will be experienced due to the Tail-End of a Cold Front. In the rest of the country, including Metro Manila, partly cloudy to cloudy skies will be experienced but localized thunderstorms are still possible.
 

 
Because of the surge of Amihan, gale warning is still in effect off the seaboards of Northern Luzon where wave height may reach up to 3.4 to 4.5 meters. Fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out into the sea, while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves in Batanes, the Babuyan Group of Islands, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, the northern and eastern coasts of Cagayan, Isabela.
 
Supermoon brightened the sky
Last night, a larger and brighter moon graced the skies to the delight of selenophiles or moon lovers.
This astronomical event happens when the moon, at a full phase, coincides with the perigee or its closest distance to the Earth. Yesterday, the moon reached its perigee at 4:43 PM and its full phase at 11:47 PM. PAGASA said that the moon appeared 14% larger and 30% brighter than usual.
 

The Northeast Monsoon, the cold and dry air from Siberia, is still affecting Northern Luzon, bringing lights rains to the region.

According to PAGASA, Batanes and the Babuyan Group of Islands will continue to experience cloudy skies with light rains today. Meanwhile, Ilocos Region, Cordillera and the rest of Cagayan Valley will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rains.

Easterlies, the warm and humid air from the Pacific, brings generally fair weather in the rest of the archipelago. As Easterlies affect the eastern sections of Central and Southern Luzon, of Visayas and of Mindanao, partly cloudy to cloudy skies will prevail only with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

Gale warning is still in effect. The northern and western seaboards of Northern Luzon will experience rough to very rough sea conditions. Fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out into the sea, while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves in Batanes, the Babuyan Group of Islands, Ilocos Sur, the northern coast of Cagayan, as well as the northern and western coast of Ilocos Norte.

Meanwhile, the country will remain storm-free in the next two to three days, PAGASA Weather Forecaster Meno Mendoza said in an interview with Panahon TV.

The country remains storm-free as we welcome the first weekend of December 2017.

According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Chris Perez, two tropical cyclones usually visit the country this month. Based on climatological records, weather disturbances frequently hit Visayas or Mindanao area at this time of year.

Despite the absence of a tropical cyclone today, rains will still affect some areas.

The Tail-End of a Cold Front brings rains in Extreme Northern Luzon, while Easterlies dampen the eastern section of the country. Throughout the day, Batanes and the Babuyan Group of Islands, Eastern Visayas, Bicol Region and the provinces of Cagayan, Aurora and Quezon will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms. In the rest of the country, including Metro Manila Metro Manila, a generally fair weather will prevail but isolated rain showers or thunderstorms are possible.

With the surge of Amihan, the northern and western seaboards of Northern Luzon will experience rough to very rough sea conditions. Fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out into the sea, while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves in Batanes, the Babuyan Group of Islands, Ilocos Sur, the northern coast of Cagayan, as well as the northern and western coast of Ilocos Norte.

After a short break last week, the Northeast Monsoon is back and has further intensified.

Today, the Northeast Monsoon or Amihan brings cool breezes and rains in Northern and Central Luzon. Meanwhile, the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and Easterlies dampen Mindanao, and the eastern sections Southern Luzon and Visayas, respectively.

Today, Quezon, the Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas and Mindanao will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms. In Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Cordillera, Cagayan Valley, and Central Luzon, partly cloudy to cloudy skies will be experienced with isolated light rains. In the rest of the country, partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers will prevail.

Gale warning is still raised in the northern seaboards of Northern Luzon. These include Batanes, Calayan, Babuyan, and the northern coasts of Cagayan and Ilocos Norte. Due to rough to very rough seas, fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out while larger vessels are alerted against big waves.

Cooler Days Ahead
Temperatures continue to dip as the Northeast Monsoon, the cold and dry air from Siberia, intensifies. Yesterday, a chilling 16.6 degrees Celsius was recorded in Baguio City. In Tanay, Rizal 17 degrees Celsius was recorded, while the temperature dropped to 21 degrees Celsius in Infanta, Quezon. The surge of Amihan is expected in January and February.